Mc Gregor Council to begin crackdown on nuisance properties

By Trudy Balcom

 When the newly elected McGregor City Council began their duties for the year in January, they created a list of priority projects that they wanted to focus on to improve the town. One of the priorities the council agreed upon was improving the town’s appearance by cleaning up or repairing nuisance properties around town.
“It’s time to improve the city, the city looks really bad,” commented councilman Joe Muehlbauer.
So each of the council members toured around town on their own time, and each created a list of properties, residential and commercial, that they believed met the city’s nuisance criteria. Nuisance properties are defined in city code the same as state of Iowa code, as: Whatever is injurious to health, indecent, or unreasonably offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as essentially to interfere unreasonably with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property is a nuisance (Code of  Iowa , Sec. 657.1). Part of the definition of nuisance includes dense growth of weeds, brush or other vegetation, junk and junk cars and “dangerous buildings.”
Near the end of last week’s meeting, the council reviewed a number of properties they felt were high priority, and discussed how best to approach the property owners to effectively solve the problem.
Some issues, particularly those dealing with parked vehicles, the council felt should be handled by MarMac Police. Other rather minor nuisance violations, such as unmowed grass, the council felt could be handled with a phone call or letter contact by City Clerk Norm Lincoln.
The most serious violations, such as dilapidated or unsafe structures will be handled through City Attorney Mike Schuster.

Mc Gregor Council to begin crackdown on nuisance properties

By Trudy Balcom

 When the newly elected McGregor City Council began their duties for the year in January, they created a list of priority projects that they wanted to focus on to improve the town. One of the priorities the council agreed upon was improving the town’s appearance by cleaning up or repairing nuisance properties around town.
“It’s time to improve the city, the city looks really bad,” commented councilman Joe Muehlbauer.
So each of the council members toured around town on their own time, and each created a list of properties, residential and commercial, that they believed met the city’s nuisance criteria. Nuisance properties are defined in city code the same as state of Iowa code, as: Whatever is injurious to health, indecent, or unreasonably offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as essentially to interfere unreasonably with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property is a nuisance (Code of  Iowa , Sec. 657.1). Part of the definition of nuisance includes dense growth of weeds, brush or other vegetation, junk and junk cars and “dangerous buildings.”
Near the end of last week’s meeting, the council reviewed a number of properties they felt were high priority, and discussed how best to approach the property owners to effectively solve the problem.
Some issues, particularly those dealing with parked vehicles, the council felt should be handled by MarMac Police. Other rather minor nuisance violations, such as unmowed grass, the council felt could be handled with a phone call or letter contact by City Clerk Norm Lincoln.
The most serious violations, such as dilapidated or unsafe structures will be handled through City Attorney Mike Schuster.

Marquette Council slogs
through long, contentious meeting

By Trudy Balcom

 A number of contentious issues came before the Marquette City Council last Tuesday, sending the meeting well past its scheduled 7 p.m. adjournment time.
The meeting began 45 minutes earlier than usual,  which was noted by councilman Tracy Melver. Melver reminded the council that by ordinance the meetings are supposed to be held at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month. Councilman Darren Matthew was absent.
That was the beginning of a meeting in which Melver found much to criticize.
Next, as the council reviewed the consent agenda in order to pay the city’s bills, Melver questioned why some figures on the monthly expense report did not jibe with the Treasurer’s report. The council spent a considerable amount of time reviewing the figures, while Melver repeatedly questioned City Clerk Maryanne Trudo about the reports. Trudo implied  that the differences did not necessarily mean that the accounting was inaccurate, and told  Melver that he should request to meet with her personally to go over any figures that were of concern to him.
Some animosity between Trudo and Melver was evident, and Mayor Ries reminded Melver to treat city employees with respect.
When the council finally voted on the consent agenda, Melver voted against it. This denied the council the ability to pay it’s bills, since the consent agenda must pass by majority vote.
Mayor John Ries made note of this and expressed his frustration with the situation, but the meeting moved on.
Later, as the council dealt with Old Business, Melver requested that they vote on the consent agenda again, so the city could pay its bills. Melver made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of the Treasurer’s Report. The motion passed.
A number of residents from the Timber Ridge subdivision addressed the council over their concerns about getting at least some of the roads paved in the subdivision. They expressed dismay with the dust and erosion from the gravel road creating gullies and sending gravel into their yards.
John Winter suggested to the council that some cost savings might be achieved by paving the road as soon as possible because of the rising costs of asphalt and concrete, and because a paved road would attract more buyers to the subdivision more quickly.
“I guess we’re just asking the council to look at if it would just be better to pave it, get it done,” Winter said.
The council agreed to schedule a special meeting to complete other unfinished business. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 28, at 5:15 p.m.

Candidates for Sheriff
discuss campaign issues

The North Iowa Times sent a candidate questionnaire to the three candidates for Sheriff of Clayton County last week. Each candidate was asked the same questions,
    All three candidates responded, Mike Tschirgi of Monona and incumbent Robert Hamann of Marquette. The following is their responses.
    Primary elections in Clayton County will be held Tuesday, June 3.
    Mike Tschirgi, personal profile: Age 40, residence in rural Monona. Investigator and 17 year veteran with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department. Family includes wife Audrey, stepsons Nick and Cody and son Jamie.
  

Law enforcement in Clayton County faces a number of challenging issues. What do you feel are the most pressing problems facing the Sheriffs Department and what do you think ought to be done about them?
    I feel that the most pressing problem currently facing the Sheriff’s department is the lack of communication with the local Fire,  EMS and police departments. We need to train together since we are responding with each other to the same incidents. If we communicate better with each other, cooperation and response will be better. I plan on the Sheriff’s department rejoining the Clayton County Law Enforcement Association so officers can network and share information on crimes in their areas and receive training they are required to have through the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. We also need to communicate with the public and have more news releases and informational stories.
    Several high profile police misconduct cases have surfaced in the county over the last few months, including one involving a former Clayton County deputy. How can the Sheriff ensure that his staff behaves in a lawful, ethical manner?  Have these events reduced public trust in the Clayton County Sheriff’s office?
    I think for starters we need to have policies and procedures in place. Deputies need to be held accountable for their actions and with policies and procedures they would know exactly what is expected of them. We currently don’t have any. The sheriff is responsible for setting these up, and one of the first things I plan on doing as sheriff is to implement policies and procedures. If concerns or complaints are addressed instead of ignored, future problems with misconduct can be eliminated. I’d also like to put in place a Night Sergeant or Supervisor. I think public trust with the Sheriff’s department is at an all time low, as is department morale. This is one of the reasons I’m running for sheriff. I care about this department and I want to get the Sheriff’s department’s respect back. I want the  Clayton County residents to be proud of their Sheriff’s department.
    What actions has the Sheriff’s Department taken in the past year that you have disagreed with and why?
    I feel the upkeep of the new building tops my list. We have a brand new building that looks worn. Without proper maintenance and cleaning this building is going to wear out prematurely.  We also need a part or full time janitor and I believe I can adjust the Sheriff’s budget to pay for one without having to increase the budget total. Having inmates clean the facility where secured information or intelligence is kept is not working or safe.

Robert Hamann, personal profile: Robert Hamann, 59 years old, Marquette, Iowa. Sheriff of Clayton County.
  

Law enforcement in Clayton County faces a number of challenging issues. What do you feel are the most pressing problems facing the Sheriffs Department and what do you think ought to be done about them?
    Losing a deputy that can not be replaced because of budget deductions. Stay within our budget and do the best that we can do.
    Several high profile police misconduct cases have surfaced in the county over the last few months, including one involving a former Clayton County deputy. How can the Sheriff ensure that his staff behaves in a lawful, ethical manner?  Have these events reduced public trust in the Clayton County Sheriff’s office?
    By investigation on all complaints and watching action on the patrol with the help of the community. No, I do not think it has reduced public trust.
    What actions has the Sheriff’s Department taken in the past year that you have disagreed with and why?
    Cut one deputy, lower budget cuts, reducing training and patrol. I have done a lot in eight years and plan to keep  it going for the next four.

Marvin Duff, personal profile:  age 50, residence in Elkader. Currently serving as Elkader Chief of Police.Family includes wife Julie, daughter Lara, age 16, and son Alan, age 19.
   

Law enforcement in Clayton County faces a number of challenging issues. What do you feel are the most pressing problems facing the Sheriffs Department and what do you think ought to be done about them?
    Creation of clear-cut policies and procedures would provide guidance for officers, dispatchers and detention personnel. Qualified supervisors need to be appointed and given the authority to carry out the mission of the Office. The Sheriff should meet with employees, community leaders, police departments, and other first responders to create an action plan to improve services to the public and help bring the Office out of the isolated position it has put itself in. The Sheriff needs to take a leadership role in helping to upgrade outdated communications equipment and promote a working relationship between emergency responders and police departments.
    Several high profile police misconduct cases have surfaced in the county over the last few months, including one involving a former Clayton County deputy. How can the Sheriff ensure that his staff behaves in a lawful, ethical manner?  Have these events reduced public trust in the Clayton County Sheriff’s office?
    Iowa law outlines certain things which disqualify someone from a job in law enforcement; such as theft, intoxication and other actions qualifying as moral turpitude. A thorough background check would have revealed an offense in another county that should have prohibited the employee from being hired, saving all involved much grief and embarrassment. Careful selection of personnel, followed by adequate training and ongoing supervision, with adherence to standards of conduct, would help to ensure the professionalism of the Sheriff’s Office. The event in question is only part of a pattern of non-responsiveness to the needs of the public by the Sheriff’s Office.

What actions has the Sheriff’s Department taken in the past year that you have disagreed with and why?
A number of examples exist to show how the Sheriff’s Office has cut itself off from the rest of the public safety community, including:
•Refusal to let local police participate in a Sheriff’s Office sponsored traffic enforcement project.
•Directing dispatchers to not call on local police for assistance.
•Refusing to assist a local mayor in serving a civil process.
•Refusing to meet with local officials concerned about law enforcement needs in their communities.
•Refusal to meet with emergency medical services to create response procedures.
•Refusal to train department employees in the Incident Command System and unwillingness to participate in exercises.
Sheriff’s Office employees want leadership and direction. The police, fire, and EMS communities want cooperation and assistance from the Department, and the public wants to know that their tax dollars are being spent effectively to protect them.

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